Basketball shooter&#39;s target

ABSTRACT

A basketball shooter&#39;s target adapted to be attached to the rim of a basketball basket comprising, a flexible or elastic cord having two ends which reach from one side of the rim to the opposite side, a target having a horizontal hole which passes completely through the target, through which the flexible cord passes, the target being affixed to the center of the cord by friction, means at each end of the flexible cord to attach the cord to opposite sides of the rim.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a basketball target, specifically to aid basketball players sharpen their shooting skills and increase their shooting percentage by aiming their shots at the target of this invention.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Most basketball players shoot at the wrong target when they shoot the ball either in a game situation or during practice. Some players shoot at the backboard, some shoot at the bottom of the net, some shoot at the front of the basketball rim and some shoot at the back of the basketball rim. Many basketball players can't even verbalize what they shoot at when the shoot the ball. Calculating the distance the basketball travels is crucial in scoring a basket. The problem with looking at a target like the front of the rim or the back of the rim is that shooters usually hit it, and miss their shot.

When a pitcher throws a baseball, he doesn't aim at the back of home plate, nor does he aim at a general target such as the strike zone, he aims at a specific target called the catcher's glove. When a boy throws a rock at a window, he aims at the glass within the window frame not at the window frame. A basketball shooter aiming at the back of the rim is just like rock thrower aiming at the window frame or the pitcher throwing the ball at the back of home plate. He is off target.

The human mind's ability to calculate distances in a fraction of a second is staggering. When the eyes of a basketball shooter fix on a target, the mind calculates the distance like a laser guided missile homing in on a target. If the shooter fixes his eye on the back of the rim, the ball will usually hit the back of the rim.

The root of the problem is that the goal in basketball is parallel to the floor and not perpendicular to it, like a window or a catcher's mitt. Shooters feel that when they put an arch on the ball it is somehow different than throwing a fastball at the catcher's glove or a rock at a window. Basically, a pitcher, a rock thrower and a basketball shooter are simply hurling projectiles at a target. They have turned their bodies into a machine called a catapult. The catapult launches objects toward a target. The more specific the target, the more accurate the catapult will be.

At the present time, there are no targets in basketball to enhance a basketball shooter's skills other than the basketball rim itself. Seasoned NBA coaches can't tell a shooter where to look when they shoot the ball because they don't really know. There is a popular misconception that you aim at the front or back of the rim when you shoot the ball. This conception is wrong. If you want the ball to go through a round basketball rim you must aim for the center of that basketball rim. However, human beings have a hard time visualizing things that aren't there. There is no physical target in the center of the basketball rim; therefore basketball shooters feel the need to aim at the rim itself.

OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   -   (a) To provide a physical target for basketball shooters that is         centered in the middle of the basketball rim so they can train         their eyes on it during shooting drills.     -   (b) To provide a physical target for basketball shooters that         can be easily installed and removed.     -   (c) To provide a physical target for basketball shooters that         utilizes the basketball rim's structure to hold it in place.     -   (d) To provide a physical target for basketball shooters that         doesn't interfere with the natural trajectory of the basketball         when it hits the rim and allows the basketball to pass through         the goal without blocking the basketball's path when scoring a         basket.     -   (e) To provide a physical target in the center of the rim for         basketball shooters, so they can clearly see it from any area of         the court.     -   (f) To provide a physical target that will not damage the         basketball or the basketball rim.     -   (g) To provide a physical target that will increase the         shooter's free throw percentage.     -   (h) To provide a physical target that will increase the         basketball shooter's field goal percentage.     -   (i) To provide a physical target that will train the basketball         shooter's eye for the correct shooting distance.     -   (j) To provide a physical target that will increase the         basketball player's shooting ability.     -   (k) To provide a physical basketball target that will glow in         the dark or in low light level situations, if desired.     -   (l) To provide a physical basketball target that is bright and         eye catching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The basketball target of this invention comprises a small solid object having a hole through it, through which a flexible or elastic cord may pass. The cord attaches at each end to opposite sides of a basketball rim. The object, the target, is placed to sit exactly in the middle of the basketball rim. The target may be brightly colored or may glow in the dark, to make it easy for the player to see. The player then uses the target as the exact location to aim his or her shot, that is, the exact center of the rim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the basketball target device of this invention, attached to a basketball rim;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the basketball target device attached to a basketball rim;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the target; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the target taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 the basketball target 10 which has a hole 14 through which a flexible or elastic cord 12 passes. One loop 16 is formed at one end of flexible cord 12 and secured by a crimp 18. Another loop 17 is formed at the other end of flexible cord 12 also secured by a crimp 19. Flexible cord 12 carrying the target 10 can be easily attached to the basketball rim 20 by securing loops 16 and 17 to the net holders or net hooks 22 and 23 of the basketball rim 20. Flexible cord 12, with target 10 attached, is stretched across basketball rim 20, from net hook 22 to net hook 23, so that target 10 is positioned in the exact center of basketball rim 20. Target 10 is fixedly attached at the center of flexible cord 12 by friction, to prevent target 10 from moving from its center position. Hole 14 passing completely through target 10, has a diameter equal to, or slightly smaller than, the diameter of flexible cord 12, so that target 10 is fixedly held by friction to flexible cord 12 at the center position. A net 24 is normally attached to rim 20.

Although the preferred manner of affixing target 10 to flexible cord 12 is by friction, target 10 may be affixed by any convenient method, such as clips, nails. screws, washers, Velcro, ties, or other means. Target 10 may or may not have a hole through it if it is affixed by one of these other methods.

The manner of using the basketball target 10 is simple. A first loop 16 of the flexible cord 12 is hooked onto basketball net hook 22 and second loop 17 is hooked onto another basketball net hook 23, 180 degrees from first loop 16. Loops 16 and 17 are secured into place by net hooks 22 and 23 at nine o'clock and three o'clock, or at 12 o'clock and six o'clock or any two positions 180 degrees apart, which positions target 10 at the exact center of rim 20. Whatever the positions of the loops 16 and 17, target 10 will occupy the center of basketball rim 20. As the basketball strikes target 10, flexible cord 12 gives way and allows the basketball to pass through basketball rim 20 and net 24. After the basketball passes through rim 20, flexible cord 12 returns to its original position and target 10 returns to the center of basketball rim 20.

Basketball target 10 will give the shooter a concrete target to look at that is positioned perfectly, increase the shooter's field goal and free throw shooting percentages, increase the shooter's confidence and gives the shooter something to visualize during a game.

Although the description above contains specificity, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of preferred embodiments of the invention. For example, the target can be round, square, triangular, oblong, star like or any other shape and can be made of wood, plastic, metal or any other convenient material. The target can be brightly colored or can made from a material or painted to glow in the dark, for better visibility.

The crimps can be metal, plastic, aluminum, steel or hand sewn. The loops can accommodate snaps, Velcro, hooks, or any other manner of attaching the flexible cord to the basketball rim. The flexible cord could also be attached to the rim by a method other than by using the net hooks, for instance, by hooks attached to the end of the cord which go over the rim itself, by Velcro or clips for attachment to the rim itself, or even by tying the ends to the rim. The flexible cord can be made of rubber, bungee cord, shock cord or any elastic cord or rope. The cord could also be made flexible by adding springs within the length of a cord or rope, or at the ends thereof.

The device is easily installed on any basketball rim and the colorful portion of the target will occupy the center of the rim, making it very visible from any area of the basketball floor. The shooter is able to see the target anywhere on the court and shoot at the target. The target gives and moves out of the way then the basketball strikes it. After the basketball goes past the target, the target instantly moves back into place at the center of the rim. This basketball target is far superior to the traditional ‘front’ of the rim, ‘back’ of the rim, backboard or bottom of the net that basketball players have been aiming for, since the inception of the game.

Having thus described the invention, 

1: A basketball shooter's target device, adapted to be attached to the rim of a basketball basket, comprising, a flexible or elastic cord, a target affixed to the center of the cord and means at each end of the cord to attach the cord to the rim of a basketball basket. 2: A basketball shooter's target adapted to be attached to a basketball basket rim having a plurality of net hooks attached to the rim, comprising, a flexible or elastic cord adapted to stretch from one side of the rim to the opposite side, a target affixed to the center of the cord, means to affix the ends of the cord to opposite net hooks. 3: The device of claim 2 in which the target is affixed to the flexible cord by friction. 4: The device of claim 2 in which the target is brightly colored. 5: The device of claim 2 in which the target glows in the dark. 6: The device of claim 2 in which the target is made of wood, plastic or metal. 7: The device of claim 2 in which the target is round, square, triangular, oblong or star shaped. 8: The device of claim 2 in which the flexible cord is made of rubber, bungee cord, shock cord, or elastic cord or rope. 9: The device of claim 2 in which the target has a horizontal hole passing completely through the center of the target, through which the flexible cord passes. 10: The device of claim 2 in which a basketball net is attached to the rim net hooks. 11: The device of claim 2 in which the ends of the flexible cord are attached to net hooks 180 degrees apart. 12: The device of claim 9 in which the horizontal hole in the target has a diameter equal to, or lesser than, the diameter of the flexible cord. 13: A basketball shooter's target adapted to be attached to a basketball rim having a plurality of net hooks attached to the rim comprising, a flexible cord having two ends which reach from one side of the rim to the 180 degree opposite side, a target having a horizontal hole which passes completely through the target, through which the flexible cord passes, the cord being fixedly attached to the center of the cord, loops at each end of the flexible cord adapted to attach to opposite side net hooks. 14: The device of claim 13 in which the target is affixed to the flexible cord by friction. 15: The device of claim 13 in which the target is brightly colored. 16: The device of claim 13 in which the target glows in the dark. 17: The device of claim 13 in which the target is made of wood, plastic or metal. 18: The device of claim 13 in which the target is round, square, triangular, oblong or star shaped. 19: The device of claim 13 in which the flexible cord is made of rubber, bungee cord, shock cord, or elastic cord or rope. 20: The device of claim 13 in which the horizontal hole in the target has a diameter equal to, or lesser than, the diameter of the flexible cord. 